Wednesday, May 23, 2012

In honor of Memorial Day Weekend, you might need a quick and easy dessert to bring to a party. These filled strawberries taste just like mini cheesecakes to me, and I am always happy to bring this signature dish to a party. I just add a blueberry when I want to give it a red, white and blue theme.

Filled Strawberries - recipe adapted from Martha Stewart

8 ounces room-temperature cream cheese

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 TB tablespoons confectioners' sugar

12 strawberries

Whip room-temperature cream cheese on medium speed until slightly fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract and 2 TB confectioners' sugar. Trim tops and bottoms of 12 strawberries to level. Use a small melon baller to scoop out tops. Fill a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch star tip with cream cheese mixture; pipe into berries until it brims over tops. Toast 1/4 cup sliced almonds in a 350°oven until golden-brown, 3 to 6 minutes; arrange slices over filling.

I had hoped to squeeze in a red, white and blue table this week but working overtime and playing outdoors seemed to get in the way. It's that time of year again when weekends consist of s'mores over the camp fire and watching the busy hummingbirds while doing yard work. Aren't the spring days the sweetest ones to play outdoors?

Last week, I showed you some photos from the Mackenzie Childs store in Aurora. This week, I'm showing some of my barn sale bargains. And let me tell you that it is NOT in my blood to ever wait in line for anything for THREE long hours.....nooooo sirreeee! But I did. Did I have fun and get bargains? YES YES YES YES. The first group of shoppers to get into the barn sale had been there for 20 hours. Die hards! There were also personal shoppers there.

At the 2011 barn sale, I added more of Courtly Check enamelware to my collection. Two large serving bowls, cups and saucers, vase, napkin rings and knobs for a dresser I would like to refinish some day.

Herb pots, small colander, soap dish and vase.

Rimmed dishes, Flower Market dinner plates and a tea kettle that was a gift.

The Flower Market enamel dinner plates in the new color "Plum" pair well with the Courtly Check chargers.

This next photo is a page from the Mackenzie Childs catalog, and I love the white petunias they used with the Courtly Check. Pure and Simple.

Debbie@Mountain Breaths

Hello, I'm Debbie.I enjoy hiking, kayaking, cross country skiing and snowshoeing in the Adirondack Mountains (thus Mountain Breaths). I live in Upstate NY with my supportive husband and have three precious sons..

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25 comments:

Always love the berries! I saw a chef on one of the morning shows making them and they added some liquor instead of the extract. Yours were much prettier :) You have a beautiful collection of the M-C! Nice welcome you got!

Debbie, I love how you do your strawberries!! I've done them where you have to make an "X" on the bottom and fill them that way. Your way is much easier and you get more yummy filling. Woo hoo!! Your bargains are wonderful. The black and white pairs soooo beautifully with other colors. What a FUN collection. Your new floral pattern is gorgeous. Thanks for sharing!!

Debbie, you know I'm sitting here smiling. Lovely way to start my day, my friend! Oh, how I wish i could go to one of the barn sales. You took away some fabulous additions. I have the CC enamel ware chargers and serving bowls in various Flower Market patterns. I'd love to add some plates and cups. Thought some of the FM cups would look nice on the chargers used as soup bowls. ;-)Enjoy your weekend. Think of me when you are shopping in the Barn. ~ Sarah

You waited in line for THREE HOURS?!??!?!! And some people waited for up to TWENTY?!??!!! THAT is dedication! Oh, my goodness! I have to go potty every 2 hours or so (isn't gettin' old great?), so I would have bee eliminated almost immediately! I'm SO glad it was worth it, because it would have been a super bummer if it wasn't! You got great pieces! The strawberries look fabulous!!! I don't own a pastry bag or any cake decorating accoutrements anymore. I gave them all to a friend who was starting a cake styling business about 10 years ago. He is thriving now, so it was well worth it. I need, however, to get my hips back out to WalMart or somewhere to buy some basics. And before I sign off, again....TWENTY HOURS?!??!! Seriously??!?!?!?! :-) Have a great holiday weekend!!!

What beautiful black white check dishes. They are amazing! And the strawberries are a perfect little dessert, I will have to try that soon. Love the little blueberry on top. Definitely a perfect summertime snack. Thanks for sharing. Have a great weekend.

Oh my, Debbie, those strawberries look wonderful! Wouldn't mind having one or two right now. Glad you had so much fun shopping for the pretty pieces. Hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. -------------Shannon

But we have to know the prices to know it is a bargain! :)The strawberries look delicious! Good sales on blueberries and peaches this week, time to bake!Thanks for linking up the great MC display at Let's Dish!

We are going to a Memorial Day barbecue and that strawberry dessert looks delicious and easy to make. Usually we go out to eat all weekend and I buy desserts from the bakery but we are trying to eat healthy. I think everyone would be surprised (pleasantly) if I made dessert and brought it with me. Great idea for Memorial Day!

I love Courtly Check! I have been a MacKenzie-Childs collector since the late 80s. My daughter and I are planning on attending the barn sale this year. We will be road tripping from Alabama. Any tips you could give me would be appreciated! I am your newest follower.

Welcome

Blogging has introduced me to a wonderful community of peers, and we learn so much from one another. I'm a New York girl decorating with MacKenzie-Childs one season at a time! I enjoy hiking, kayaking, cross country skiing and snowshoeing in the Adirondack Mountains (thus Mountain Breaths). I live in Upstate NY with my supportive husband and have three adult sons two precious grandsons.

On Blogger, I view my stats from time to time. Today, I am sharing a post that has received the most views. 10,121 to be exact. It all sta...

Summit of Rocky Peak Ridge

We are Adirondack 46ers, which is an organization of hikers who have climbed all forty-six of the traditionally recognized High Peaks of the Adirondack Mountains. We are referred to as 46ers. We completed the 46 peaks on August 26, 2000. Click our picture for more information.